Hawking on climate change: Trump 'could push Earth over the brink'

Stephen Hawking has weighed in on the climate change debate and US President Donald Trump's stance on the issue.

Professor Stephen Hawking

Professor Stephen Hawking Source: AAP

Professor Stephen Hawking has criticised President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, saying it “could push the Earth over the brink”. 

Speaking to mark his 75th birthday, Professor Hawking said he was concerned Trump’s actions could see Earth end up like Venus “with a temperature of 250 degrees and raining sulfuric rain”.

The world-famous physicist warned: “By denying the evidence for climate change and pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Donald Trump will cause avoidable environmental damage to our beautiful planet, endangering the natural world for us and our children.”
The Cambridge-based professor also reflected on his career achievements, naming his work on black holes as what he thinks will be a key part of his legacy.

"I think my greatest achievement, will be my discovery that black holes are not entirely black...  I think this will be key, to understanding how paradoxes between quantum mechanics and general relativity can be resolved."

Professor Hawking, who has long battled motor neurone disease, said his dream would be a cure for the illness is found.


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Published 3 July 2017 10:24am
Updated 3 July 2017 11:24am
By SBS World News
Source: SBS

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